Uranium heterogeneous photocatalysis

Marta I. Litter, Treatment of Chromium, Mercury, Lead, Uranium, and Arsenic in Water by Heterogeneous Photocatalysis... 

In view of the enormous literature published on the subject, only the cases of chromium, mercury, lead, uranium, and arsenic are reviewed here. In 1999, we published an extensive review on metal treatment by heterogeneous photocatalysis in which the early literature is mentioned (Litter, 1999). In this chapter, we will remind the most important issues and update the most recent information. 

There are very few reports in the literature concerning heterogeneous photocatalysis for uranium treatment in water. In our previous review, only one case of photocatalytic reaction on uranium salts was reported (Amadelli et al., 1991). Taking into account the standard reduction potentials, U(VI) can be photocatalytically reduced by Ti02 conduction band electrons to U(V) and then to U(IV) (E° = +0.16 V and +0.58 V, respectively, Bard et al., 1985). However, more reduced U(III) and U(0) forms cannot be generated because of very negative redox potentials (Bard et al., 1985). In addition, U(V) rapidly disproportionates to U(VI) and U(IV), and its chemistry is very complex (Selbin and Ortego, 1969). For example, uranyl... 

Vincenzo Augugliaro, Sedat Yurdakal, Vittorio Loddo, Giovanni Palmisano, and Leonardo Palmisano, Determination of Photoadsorption Capacity of Polychrystalline Ti02 Catalyst in Irradiated Slurry Marta I. Litter, Treatment of Chromium, Mercury, Lead, Uranium, and Arsenic in Water by Heterogeneous Photocatalysis... 

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